Kern County Obituaries
Ernest T. Lewis
Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008
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Source Unknown; 29 Dec 1938
Auto Accident Kills Two, Injures Two
Three Men From Golden Queen In Accident Which Cost 2 Lives
Ernest T. Lewis, mine foreman at the Golden Queen and Jack Gibbs also employed
there, were killed on Christmas eve a mile south of Mojave when their car side
swiped a car driven by Reed Arrowsmith also of Golden Queen coming north and
crashed into the front of a north bound truck and trailer which crushed them into the
ditch.
Wives of the two men were following in another car and witnessed the accident.
They had finished their holiday shopping in Mojave a few minutes before and were
on their way home to Rosamond with final preparations for Christmas dinner when
the crash occurred.
Gibbs who was thirty is survived by his wife Mrs Norma Gibbs. Mrs. Leone Lewis
and four childlren, Ted 14, Bud 12, Bill 10 and Gaby 4, as well as his parents, five
brothers and three sisters survive Mr. Lewis who was 40.
Rudolph G. Maurin driver of the truck for Western Truck Line Ltd. sustained a
sprained back and Arrowsmiths head was bumped. Gibbs dog, riding with them was
also killed.
Bodies of the two men were taken to the Mumaw Funeral Home in Lancaster
pending the coroners inquest.
Funeral services will be conducted for Ernie Lewis at the Church of Latter Day
Saints in Riverside on Friday afternoon at one o'clock. .
Services for Jack Gibbs will be conducted at Mojave Community church Thursday
at 3:30 o'clock, with the Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers Union assisting Rev. Judson
Oldfield in conducting the services. Burial will be in the local cemetery.
Mojave Desert News; 5 Jan 1939
Jack Gibbs Buried in Mojave Cemetery by Union Comrades
Mojave Community Church was unable to accommodate all who attended funeral
services last Thursday for Jack Gibbs, local miner who was killed in an automobile
accident on Christmas Eve in which his companion Ernie Lewis was also killed. Rev.
Judson Oldfield preached the funeral sermon and Mmes. C. B. Cox and Lawrence
Glintz sang. A profusion of flowers were sent by friends.
Members of the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Union, Local 272 marched to the
cemetery in a body after the church services and Union services were conducted at the
grave by John Pengilley, president.
Pallbearers included C. A. Cumke, superintendent of the Golden Queen mine , John
Pengilley, Bill Rose, Julius Brown and LaMar Porter who were his friends and
coworkers.
Altho he was known here as a miner, having worked at the Golden Queen for three
years, he was known for his ability as a pugilist , with many professional bouts and
knockouts credited to him on his record.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, thirty years ago, he lost both of his parents and
provided for himself since he was eleven years old.
In the ring he was known as Gentleman Jack and the Bristeling Blond Tiger. Seven
years ago he came west and married Miss Norma Staton of Eugene, Oregon.
He continued boxing in San Francisco and Los Angeles until an arm injury forced
him to give it up and he came to the desert to work at the mine. He was planning to
undergo an operationon the injured elbow to enable him to box again, before the
tragedy happened.
His sister Mrs. W. W. Driskell of Brunswick, Georgia is the only surviving relative
other than his wife, Mrs. Norma Gibbs, and her mother, Mrs. Flora Staton the Misses
Ruby and Delores Staton, Mrs. Thelma Curtion and Norman Staton of Mojave, Neal
Staton of Lancaster and Mrs. Freida Albro of Iola, Kansas.